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Former West Milford DPW Super's Case Moves To Grand Jury

WEST MILFORD, N.J. -- The former superintendent of the West Milford Department of Public Works failed to strike a plea deal, and will have charges in his case presented to a grand jury, NorthJersey.com reported.

Carlos Luaces, the former DPW superintendent in West Milford, will be investigated by a Passaic County grand jury for animal abuse charges now that plea negotiations stemming from spraying baby birds with pesticides have failed.

Carlos Luaces, the former DPW superintendent in West Milford, will be investigated by a Passaic County grand jury for animal abuse charges now that plea negotiations stemming from spraying baby birds with pesticides have failed.

Photo Credit: ICBP.org

Carlos Luaces offered to plead guilty in exchange for reduced charges stemming from an incident last summer when he is accused of spraying two baby birds in their nest with pesticide, killing them, according to the web site.

He was terminated from his $80,000 job the day criminal charges were filed against him, NorthJersey.com said.

Luaces’ defense attorney, Gary Kraemer, has suggested the charges against him were trumped up by DPW employees because he was hired to bring order to the DPW, and some of his employees resented that. Kraemer maintains Luaces’ innocence, according to NorthJersey.com, and says the allegations against him were made to get rid of him. Luaces was appointed to the DPW top job in April.

The two were in Superior Court last week hoping to resolve his charges pre-indictment, but the Passaic County prosecutor refused to downgrade the charges against him -- so, the case will be presented to the grand jury, NorthJersey.com said.

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